Baird deeply disappointed by UN vote on Palestinian membership
Ottawa has no plans to cover the funding shortfall that has hit the UN’s cultural body after it voted to grant Palestinians full membership on Monday. The U.S. froze its donations to UNESCO as a result of the vote, which it says undermines the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. “Under no circumstances will Canada cover the budgeting shortfall as a result of this decision and Canada has decided to freeze all further contributions to UNESCO,” Foreign Minister John Baird told Reuters.